Field evaluation for pneumonia diagnostic tools kicks off in South Sudan

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As Programme Coordinator for Malaria Consortium’s pneumonia diagnostics project, I visited South Sudan last month to oversee the start of field evaluations in the country. The field evaluation is the third phase of our pneumonia diagnostics project which works to find the best tool for diagnosing pneumonia – a major killer of children under five in sub-Saharan Africa. During this phase, our teams measure the accuracy of previously selected devices to make sure that they are up to the task of effectively assessing symptoms of pneumonia in children.

First, the team in South Sudan attended the training of six community drug distributors (CDDs) and one first level health facility worker in a hotel in Aweil. The participants were trained on how to use a respiratory rate phone application called ‘RRate’ as well as the Masimo phone pulse oximeter, which measures oxygen saturation in the blood. All of those in attendance passed the tests and will now go on to participate in three months of data collection, using these devices in their everyday work – at home or in clinics.

Kevin Baker is Programme Coordinator for the Pneumonia Diagnostics project

Community drug distributors (CDDs) attend training for the pneumonia diagnostics project in Aweil centre. Participants were then given devices as well as solar chargers to allow them to charge their devices during the three months of data collection.

A solar charger provided to all assessors to allow them to charge their devices during the field evaluation

Devices were given to all 25 assessors participating in the study, and they were put in touch with supervisors who would coordinate and ensure that they understood the process for data collection.

The pneumonia diagnostics team also visited a village that was a 45 minute drive from Aweil town. We met with two CDDs and one first level health facility worker to conduct structured assessments. We were pleased to see that all three assessors understood the process and how to use the devices. We were also able to observe the research team conducting structured assessments recording the usability and acceptability of the devices to the community health workers and the caregivers.

CDD using a mobile phone pulse oximeter as part of a structured assessment while being observed by the research team.

A CDD completes a structured assessment while being observed by the research team.

A CDD completes her logbook as part of a standard assessment.

A CDD completes her logbook as part of the assessment while being observed by the research team.

A CDD explains to a caregiver what is involved in treatment before administering.